Fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines



. :s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Alcolas Zczs ten CI IarZes' .Sezm XQTTCRNEY.

N. LEISTEN El 111.

Filed Feb. 11. 1932 FUEL FEED APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESY M 1 w: 9% 1 I A; \m I l I I I I I I I I III/\ I MM 1w a Feb. 12, 1935.

N. LEISTEN El. l.

FUEL FEED APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 11, 19523 Sheets-Sheet; 2

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x I 35' k 1 47/ E /8 ll as 6/ r 62 h 69 F 56 INVENTORS Izcalas [ezs tellI 6% arias 6%)? BY 1 F ATTO N EY Pitented'Feb. 12, 1935 1,991,021 IUNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICIEv FUEL FEED APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL 1COMBUSTION ENGINES Nicolas Leisten and" Charles Senn, Detroit, Mich.Application February 11, 1932, Serial No. 592,277

' 15 Claims. (01. 201-18) This invention relates to fuel feed apparatusof the carburetor, and centrally formed in said for internal combustionengines. head is an orifice 8 for delivery to the mixing An object ofthe. invention is to provide a chamber of a gaseous fuel. Said orificeis concarburetor eliminating the usual throttle and trolled by a needlevalve 9 comprising a stem making an improved provision for thoroughly amounted for vertical travel axially ofthe mix- 5 atomizing liquid fuel.ing chamber in a pair of spaced plates 10 and Another object is toprovide for alternative 11, apertured for the passage of ,air and fuel.delivery of liquid fuel or gas to an internal com- A spring 12 coiledupon the stem of the valve bustion engine. 9 urges the latter upwardlyto uncoverv the or-' 10 Another object is to provide improved hyiflce 8,and a cam 13 bearing upon the upper 10 draulic means for controllingsuch alternative end of said stem is adapted to selectively lowerdelivery. said stem to regulably close said orifice. Said A iurtherobject is to thermostatically concam is fast on a shaft 14 extendingxteriorly trol the delivery of liquid fuel to a gas genof the carburetorand carrying on'its outer end 15 erator, and thus insure a gasgenerating teman actuating arm 15.

perature when delivery is established. The valve stem 9 further carriesa disk valve These and various other objects the invention member 16controlling the admission of primary attains by the constructionhereinafter deair to the mixing chamber, said member seating scribed,and illustrated in the accompanying on the peripheral wall of the head'1, and said 20 drawings, wherein: wall being flared for that purpose.20

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a vehicle Gaseous fuel is adaptedto be delivered to the motor diagrammatically showing the hereinorifice8 from a. gas storage tank 1'7 by way of disclosed provision for fuelingsaid motor, a a pipe 18, and under control ofa valve 19. fragmentary,sectional showing of the vehicle Said tank is suppliedwith gaseous fuelthrough foot board being further included. a pipe 20 leading from a gasgenerator carried 25 Fig. 2 is an axial, vertical, sectional view of bythe exhaust manifold. the carburetor of said motor, taken upon the Thisgeneratorias best appears in Figs. 5 and line'2-2 of Fig. 1. 6)comprises a heating chamber 21 mounted on 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional detailtaken upon the and opening into the exhaust manifold and havline 3-3 ofFig. 1 and showing one of several ing a tubular vaporizing pipe 22extending from duplicate fluid pressure responsive devices for end toend thereof and connected at one end to actuating fuel valves of saidcarburetor. the pipe 20. Liquid fuel is delivered to the -Fig. 4 isacross sectional view of a compressed other end of the pipe 22, afterflowing through air heating chamber carried by the exhaust apreheatingtube 23 which extends through the manifold of said motor,. taken uponthe line casing 21 from end to end thereof, and is bent 35 4-4 ofFig. 1. exteriorly of said casing to enter the vaporizing Fig. 5 is ahorizontal, sectional 'view taken pipe and -has within the latter aplurality of upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and showing a gas smalloutlets 24. The pipe 22 is filled with generator installed in a secondheating chamber finely divided metal 25, as for example steel 0 carriedby the exhaust manifold. W001, to promote the'heating a d equent Fig. 6is a vertical, sectional view of the sam vflp l'i m' Of liquid fuel.-taken upon the line H of Fig, 5. Liquid fuel is delivered to the inletend of Fig. 7 is a. vertical, sectional view of a gas the preheatingtube 23 through P pe 6 to pressure regulator, taken upon the line 'lofwhich it is delivered by any suitable pump 27 Fig. 1. having its intakeconnected through a pipe 28 45 In these views, the reference character 1desand suitable branches 0 o u d fuel ignates, an internal, combustionengine voirs 28a. and 28b for respectively storing high intake andexhaust manifolds designated 2 and test and low test liquid fuel. Valves280 permit 3 respectively. 7 selective connection of these reservoirs tothe A carburetor 4 attached to the manifold '2, pump. Achamber 29 fortrapping'gas or air is 5;; therebeneath, comprises a mixing chamber 5preferably connected to said pipe at some interhaving an outlet to saidmanifold. The primary mediate point thereof. air supply to said mixingchamber is established Branching from the pipe 26 is a pipe 30leadthrough a plurality of openings 6 formed in a ing to a fuel atomizercomprising a casing- 31 cup-shaped head 7 attached to the lower endhaving an air inlet 32 nd a 8 Outlet 33 F wardly urged toward an openposition by a.

'chamber 21 and fixed at its other end. Said spring 35. For closing saidvalve, its lower end is engaged by a cam member 36 fast on a shaft 37carrying a control arm 38.

Air is delivered to the inlet 32 from a compressor 39, which, asillustrated, is united with the pump 27. Such'delivery is efiectedthrough a line comprising pipe sections 40 and 40a between which isinterposed an air heating tube 41 positioned in a heating chamber 42carried by and communicating with the exhaust manifold 3. Thus thesecondary air stream delivered to the mixing chamber at 33 is preheatedto a predetermined temperature.

Preferably the air heating tube 41 has an inlet 43-thereto foratmospheric air, established through a small fitting 43a extendedthrough -the side wall of the heating chamber 42 (see Fig. .4), saidinlet being normally closed by a check valve 43b urgedto its seat by alight spring. If for any reason, the air compressor ceases to function,a vacuum tendency willbe transmitted to the heater tube 41 from themixing chamber 5 through the pipe section a,

whereby atmospheric pressure will unseat said check valve, admittingatmospheric air to theheating tube to maintain the secondary air supplyto the mixing chamber.

The valve 19 is angularly operable by an arm 44. Said arm and ,each ofthe arms 15 and 38 are individually engaged by links 45 for actuatingsaid arms from plungers 46 reciprocatory in cylinders 47, 47a, and 4717(see Fig. 3). Within the latter, coiled springs 48 urge said plungers tointermediate positions tending to effect seating of the valve members 9,34, and 19. For unseating' said valve members, fluid pressure isapplicable to the plungers 46 within the cylinders 47 to overcome thesprings 48. Thus, said cylinders are individually connected by pipes 49,49a and 49b, to a primary control cylinder 50 mounted beneath the footboard 51 ofthe motor vehicle and having a piston 52 reciprocatorytherein to displace a pressure- 'transmitting liquid through said pipes.

Said piston is operable by a foot pedal 53' positioned above said floorboard and connected to the piston through a suitable stem. The pipes'49aand 495 are individually controlledby valves 54c and 54b operable fromthe driver's seat inot shown). V

It'is preferred to insert in the pipe 18 a pressure regulating device,such .as exemplified in Fig. '1, which will permit gas from the tank 1'1to flow to the mixing chamber at a definite predetermined pressureregardless of variations of pressure in said tank.

Said device may comprise a casing 55 ha'vin 'aport 56- thereincontrolledby a disk valve member 5'? carried by a diaphragm 58. Said valve memberis urged to its'seat by a' spring 59 under pressure regulable by anadjustable plug 60.

by a spring 62 against the intake side of the,

A smaller valve member 61 is urged Preferably liquid fuel delivery tothe preheating tube 23 is automatically regulated by a thermostaticvalve 64, the stem of which may carry an arm 65 connectedto one end of arod 66 passing longitudinally through the heating flow of liquid fuel tothe preheating and gasgenerating tubes.

In use of the described apparatus, the engine is normally operated ondry gas delivered from the tank 17, the valves.9, 19 and 16 beingregulably unseated to admit such gas in a desired volume to the mixingchamber, together with a proportionate volume of primary air. Duringsuch normal operation, the valve member 34 is seated, cutting offdelivery of liquid fuel to the mixing chamber. To avoid unseating of thelast-named valve member responsive to manipulation of the piston 52 bythe foot pedal 53 it is necessary during normal operation that the valve54a be closed, preventing transmission of fluid pressure through thepipe 49a. In operating the engine on dry gas, as described, the fueldelivered to the gas-generating chamber may be kerosene or a low gradeof gasoline or the like.

To establish an initial supply of gas in the tank 17, it will, ofcourse, be necessary to operate the engine for at least several minuteson liquid fuel. Liquid fuel operation may be established at any otherdesired time, and particularly when it is preferred, for any reason,

to employ a good grade of gasoline rather than,

During liquid fuel operation, the fuel is dethermore, a high degree ofturbulency results from delivery of the rich mixture of secondary airand fuel into the primary air stream, transversely to the flow of thelatter, whereby a still finer subdivision of the fuel is effected.Preheating of the secondary air further tends towards thoroughvaporization of the fuel, and

also raises thetemperature of the mixture as In operating on gas, thesecondary air stream continues to exercise a mixture-heating functionand cooperates further with the primary air to establish properproportions for the gaseous mixture.

While it is apparent that the illustrated embodiment of our invention iswell calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantagesprimarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention issusceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit andscope of the subioined claims. r.

:delive'red'to the engine to the point-of maximum efliciency.

- for actuating said cam member.

What we claim is:

1. A carburetor comprising a mixing chamber having a primary air inlet,means for delivering secondary air to said chamber under compression,means for mixing liquid fuel with the secondary air prior to itsdischarge into the mixing chamber, and means for delivering gaseous fuelto the mixing chamber.

2. A carburetor comprising a mixing chamber, a head closing an end ofsaid chamber having a primary air inlet and having a flared annularwall, and formed with a gaseous fuel inlet,

, a disk valve member seating on said annular wall within said head tocontrol a flow of primary air to the mixing chamber, a valve membercontrolling the gaseous fuel inlet, and means for operating said valvemembers in common.

3. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with the exhaust manifold and carburetor thereof, of a gasgenerator subject to exhaust manifold heat, means for delivering liquidfuel to said generator, means for delivering vaporized fuel from saidgenerator to the carburetor, an air heater carried by said manifold,means for delivering compressed air through said air heater to thecarburetor, and means for supplying liquid fuel to the compressed airstream.

4. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with-an engine carburetor, of a gas generator, means fordelivering liquid fuel to said generator, means for delivering vaporizedfuel from the generator to the carburetor, means for delivering com--pressed air to the carburetor, means for supplying-liquid fuel to thecompressed air stream, and means for applying the exhaust gas heat ofsaid engine to both the generator and said compressed air deliverymeans.

5. In a fuel feed apparatus, the combination with a carburetor, meansfor supplying gaseous fuel to the carburetor, means for supplying liquidfuel to the carburetor, valves separately controlling the delivery ofsaid fuels to the carburetor, fluid pressure motors for operating saidvalves, an actuating element for said motors, and means for renderingsaid motors selectively responsive to said element.

6. A carburetor comprising a mixing chamber, a stem reciprocatory insaid chamber, valves carried by said stem individually controlling airand fuel delivery to said chamber, a spring acting on said stem, urgingsaid valves correspondingly from their seats, a cam member terminallyengaging said stem .for seating said valves, and means exteriorlycarried by the carburetor 7. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, the combination with a carburetor having a mixingchamber, means for regulably supplying a gaseous fuel to said mixingchamber, means for regulably supplying a liquid fuel to said mixingchamber, means for regulably admitting air to said mixing chamber, and acommon control mechanism for all of said means, selective as regardscontrol of said gmeous fuel supply means and liquid fuel supply means. i

8. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a mixing chamber, of means forregulably supplying gaseous fuel to said chamber, means for regulablysupplying liquid fuel to said chamber, means for regulably admitting airto said chamber, fluid motors for individually effecting regulation ofsaid means, and mechanism for applying fluid pressure to said motors,selective as regards operation of the motors regulating the gaseous fueldelivery and the liquidfuel delivery.

9. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a mixing chamber and an air inletto said chamber, of means for regulably supplying gaseous fuel to saidchamber, means for regulably supplyingliquid fuel to said chamber, fluidmotors for individually effecting regulation of said means, andmechanism for applying fluid pressure selectively to said motors.

10. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a mixing chamber and an air inletto said chamber, of means for regulably supplying gaseous fuel to saidchamber, means for regulably supplying liquid fuel to said chamber,means for regulably admitting air to said chamber, motors forindividually effecting regulation of said means, and mechanism forremotely controlling said motors, selectively effective on the motorsregulating gaseous fuel delivery and liquid fuel delivery.

11. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a mixing chamber and an air inletto said chamber, of means for regulably supplying liquid fuel to saidchamber, means for regulably supplying gaseous fuel to said chamber,motors for individually effecting regulation of said means, andmechanism establishing a remote control of'said motors, selectively.

12. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a miidng chamber and an air inletto said chamber, of a gas storage tank, a delivery connection from saidtank to said chamber, a valve controlling said delivery connection, avalve controlling said air inlet, and means establishing. a remotecontrol of said valves, in common.

13. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor having a mixing chamber and an air inletto said chamber, of a gas storage tank, a delivery connection from saidtank to said chamber, a valve controlling said delivery connection, avalve controlling said air inlet, fluid mo tors for individuallyoperating said valves, and a common means for applying fluid pressure tosaid motors.

14. In a fuel feed apparatus for internal combustion engines, an airheater, means for delivering compressed air to the heater and from theheater to an engine intake, said heater having an inlet for atmosphericair, and a closure for said inlet biased to a normally, closed positionand adapted to open responsive to a reduction of pressure in the heaterbelow atmospheric pressure.

15. In a fuelfeed apparatus for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a carburetor, of means for regulably supplying fuel tothe carburetor, means for regulably supplying air to the carburetor,motors for individually effecting regulation of said means, a commonmeans for energizing said motors, and means for regulating energizationof the motor which regulates the fuel supply.

CHARLES SENN.

NICOLAS LEISTEN.

